Authentic Everyday – Story Prompts Reminding Us of Little Things That Matter

What were your favourite (or least favourite) childhood activities?

• From school?
• At home?
• Activities with friends?

What simple moments of life today would be priceless to revisit in later years?

• What rare occasions should you be cherishing?
• We are all getting older. Childhood turns to teenage years. Elderly parents feel the impact of age. What times with them should you treasure?
• Will world events and changes to cultural norms make you look back on today with fond memories?

As a parent, can child routines like mealtime, bath time or bedtime be captured for prosperity?

• What interactions do you have with your children today that you’ll miss in 10 years from now?
• Record conversations and baby gurgles. Film the little things you do each day.
• Then you can always revisit these memories in later years (you’ll be glad you did).

Can you record a regular conversation with family for prosperity?

• Most smartphones and tablets have an audio recording app. Record some fun conversations that you can look back on with fond memories. Here are some apps you can try.
• If you have video calls with family, you can record the audio on your computer using apps like these.
• Please ensure people are aware of when you are recording to avoid upset.

What does your family do in their free time?

• What do you and your children do after the working day?
• What about at the weekends?
• Do you have seasonal free time activities; outdoor swimming over the summer or skiing in the winter?

What little-known details about your daily life might surprise others?

• What daily habits have you grown into over the years?
• What do your children do that other parents find surprising?

Which ‘ordinary’ moments from your past would you most like to relive?

• Perhaps it’s as simple as the carefree feeling you had during childhood.
• Perhaps it’s some ordinary moments spent talking or playing cards with people no longer around.
• Perhaps it’s some ‘me-time’ moments, where every minute counts.

Is there something family can help you with?

• In real life, unlike in social media feeds, we face challenges every day.
• Connect with the people who care about you. Share what’s really going on with people you can trust.
• If only for yourself, preserve stories of your journey that you can look back on and see how far you’ve come.

How are relationships important in your day-to-day life?

• How do you keep in touch with your extended family living all over the place?
• Who are your ‘go-to’ people, that are there for you in good times and bad?

Could school drop-offs, arriving at the office or other daily events be saved for prosperity?

• They seem boring, almost silly to record…
• But imagine showing your child being dropped off at their nursery when they are young adults.
• Imagine watching that video of your old work team at you arrive to your old office.
• How many daily commutes and offices have you worked at that you no longer remember?
• Just because it’s a normal part of your day today doesn’t mean you won’t want to revisit it later in life. The world will probably be a very different place by then…

Can you share any ‘personality test’ results?

• Taking personality tests can be fun and you can learn interesting things about yourself.
• Understanding the personality type of family members can help you understand and communicate with them even better.
• There are many options, including the famous Myers-Briggs, 16personalities and the Enneagram.

Any children’s drawings, homework or playdates that could be saved for future reminiscing?

• Do you have a kitchen table littered with schoolwork that you don’t want to throw away but are unsure what to do with?
• Digitise all their important creations, from artwork and test results to photos of the things they have built.
• You can’t store all their achievements, but now at least all the memories are preserved.

What photo collection would best represent your daily life?

• Can you collect photos from your day that tell the story of your average day?
• The view of your desk, the commute, the dog walk, the school run, the grocery shopping, the kitchen worktop, the sandwich at lunch, the kids doing their homework.
• We forget to photograph these things because they don’t seem special. We see them all the time.
• Until one day, when you realise that those times have passed…

As a parent, can you record your children’s views on topics they’ll appreciate revisiting?

• Get their take on world news.
• Ask them about their day, their friends and their experiences.
• Make end-of-year recordings where you ask about what they remember about that year.
• Ask them about their aspirations for the coming year, or their future.
• Recording on your mobile using a voice recording app.

What photo, video, audio, thought or news might make another person smile?

• Somewhere, there’s someone in the world who could enjoy a boost.
• A friend, a retired parent, a sibling.
• What’s happened today that can put a smile on their face?

As a parent, which of your children’s current idiosyncrasies will you most want to remember?

• Each child is so unique.
• Celebrate what makes them different from others!

What’s on your mind today?

• Write it as a personal diary entry, so in later years you can look back on your journey.
• Write it to a confidant.
• Tell it the way it really is.

If you came with a ‘user manual’ for family and friends, what would it say?

• This idea has taken hold in some workplaces; everyone creates a short document detailing how they like to work.
• Unlike at work, your family have known you for years, but are there some things they have yet to figure out about how best to interact with you?
• Making a short guide can be a fun exercise and you might discover some valuable insights.
• Think about the times when tensions run high at home. How should your family communicate with you during such times? What are the things people do that make you go bananas?

What habits or skills would you like to develop?

• A new area to venture into?
• Or perhaps a change in habits that you want to make?
• Write about it to track your journey.
• Share it with your family to get increased accountability and their assistance.

What puts the bounce in your walk each day?

• You think about it, and smile. Now write about it.
• Perhaps it’s something from the past that’s motivating.
• Perhaps it’s an aspiration for the future.

What do your children regularly do that would be fun for them to revisit as an adult?

• Think back to your own childhood and consider the moments you wish you could relive.
• It might be the things they do with family.
• Or playtime with friends.